Termination tool blade

ABSTRACT

A blade for use in a tool for terminating electrical conductors at a termination clip on a telephone wire connecting block. The blade is elongate in shape and has cutting and seating edges on the other end for seating a continuous conductor at the termination clip. The blade has longitudinal recesses in each end for receiving the termination clip, and has a centrally located elongate through hole with opposing rounded walls at each end for receiving a blade retention screw. The opposing rounded walls have serrations in parallel alignment with the axis of the hole for engaging and preventing rotation of the retention screw while the tool is being used.

[451 May 13,1915

United States Patent [191 Mason TERMINATION TOOL BLADE Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager Attorney, Agent, or FirmFlehr, Hohbach, Test, Albritton & Herbert [73] Assignee:

[57] ABSTRACT A blade for use in a tool for terminating electrical conductors at a termination clip on a telephone wire connecting block. The blade is elongate in shape and [22] Filed: May 3, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 466,733

has cutting and seating edges on the other end for Us Cl 29/2()3 HT; 29/275 seating a continuous conductor at the termination Int. The blade ha longitudinal recesses in each end 29/203 H, 203 HT, 203 D [58] Field of Search for receiving the termination clip, and has a centrally located elongate through hole with opposing rounded walls at each end for receiving a blade retention screw. The opposing rounded walls have serrations in [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS parallel alignment with the axis of the hole for engag- 3708 852 1/1973 Mason 29/203 HT ing and preventing rotation of the retention screw while the tool is being used.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures TERMINATION TOOL BLADE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention is directed toward a blade for use in a termination tool which includes means for preventing loosening of the blade retention screw while the tool is used for terminating electrical conductors at termination clips, and more specifically, toward an improved reversible blade for use in such a termination tool.

2. Description of the Prior Art Termination tools for use with connecting blocks used in the telephone industry are known. One such tool is described in US. Pat. No. 3.702%,852. issued Jan. 9, I973. The above patent discloses a termination tool including a reversible steel blade attached by a single screw to means carried by a plastic handle. One end of the blade is for seating and cutting conductors at a connecting block. and the other end is for seating only. In b the termination tool described therein. the blade retention screw was subject to loosening during use. Loosening of the retention screw permitted the blade to pivot thereabout and necessitated interruption of work to resecure the blade in the termination tool.

There is a need for a blade for use in a termination tool which when mounted in the tool by means of a retention screw will prevent loosening of the retention screw and thus eliminate the requirement for work interruption for re-securing the blade.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION A termination tool and reversible blade for use therewith is disclosed having an elongate blade body with cutting and seating edges formed on one end and seating edges only formed on the other. A retention screw is provided for mounting the blade in the termination tool. A pair of serrated rounded surfaces are provided on the blade body to cooperate with the blade retention screw. The serrations engage the screw and prevent rotation of the retention screw and subsequent loosening of the blade in the termination tool in the presence of shock loading on the blade during tool use.

In general, it is an object of the present invention to provide a blade for use in a termination tool which cooperates with the blade retention screw to prevent loosening during use of the tool.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a blade for use in a termination tool which retains the feature of prevention of loosening of the blade retention screw in the tool when the blade is reversed.

Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a plan view of a reversible blade for use in a termination tool.

FIG. 2A is a sectional view of one embodiment of the termination tool blade along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is a sectional view of another embodiment of the termination tool blade along the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation view of the seating end of the termination tool blade.

LII

FIG. 4 is a detailed enlarged plan view of surfaces on the blade having serrations for engagement with a blade retention screw.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a termination tool having a blade retained therein.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along the line 66 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A termination tool blade of the type disclosed herein is shown in FIG. I. The blade has an elongate body 11 with a cutting edge 12 and a seating edge I3 formed at one end thereof and with seating edges 14 formed at the opposite end. A longitudinal recess 15 is formed in the body II at the end having the cutting edge 12. Another longitudinal recess 16 is formed at the end of body II having seating edges 14 formed thereon. Recesses 15 and 16 are shaped to accept electrical conductor terminals such as the bifurcated termination clips or terminals on telephone communications terminal blocks. A bevelled entry 17 is shown at the mouth of each of longitudinal recesses 15 and 16.

Referring to FIG. 2A one embodiment of the termination tool blade is shown in section. The top and bottom surfaces of recesses I5 and I6 are shown as well as a pair of through holes 18 and I9 in communication with recesses 15 and 16 respectively. In this fashion, clearance is provided for the bifurcated terminal mentioned above after it passes through recesses I5 and 16.

FIG. 2B shows another embodiment of the blade body I] for use in a termination tool wherein through elongate holes I8 and I9 are replaced by elongate counterbores 21 and 22 having a function similar to holes 18 and I9.

FIGv 3 shows seating edges 14, bevelled entry I7 and longitudinal recess l6 in one end of elongate body 1].

Turning to FIG. 4, a detailed view of the centrally located elongate through hole 23 is shown having two opposing rounded end walls 24 formed thereon. A plurality of serrations 26 which run in a direction parallel to the axis of through hole 23 are formed on the end walls 24.

FIG. 5 shows a termination tool 27 with the elongate body 11 of a termination blade depending therefrom. Termination tool 27 has a manually engageable handle 28 in which is contained a slide 29 which is movable longitudinally with respect to handle 28. Means are provided within the handle 28 for delivering a striking blow to slide 29. This last named means includes a hammer 31 driven by spring means 32. The compressed length of spring means 32 and the consequent force exerted thereby is adjustable by means of a screw 33 in the end of handle 28. A sear pin 34 is carried internally in hammer 31. Sear pin 34 is positioned between a resilient pad 36 and a cam surface 37. Sear pin 34 has a hole 38 therethrough having a predetermined diameter. A pinlike projection 39 is formed on one end of slide 29 which bears against the bottom surface of sear pin 34. Pin-like projection 39 is surrounded by a shoulder 40 on slide 29.

Slide 29 has a forked end opposite the end carrying pin-like projection 39 comprising tines 41 and 42 with a space 43 therebetween. Tine 41 has a through clearance hole 44 and tine 42 has a through threaded hole 46. Holes 44 and 46 have a common center line. Space 43 is formed to accept elongate body 11 so that centrally located through hole 23 in body 11 may be aligned with clearance hole 44 and threaded hole 46. A retaining screw 47 is inserted through clearance hole 44. and hole 23, for engaging threads in hole 46, thereby securing the elongate blade body 11 in the termination tool 27.

The operation of the termination tool and the blade for use therein will now be described. Referring to FIG. 6 elongate body ll of the terminating blade is shown with cutting edge 12 and seating edge 13 projecting from the terminating tool 27. The body ll is inserted into the space 43 in slide 29 until retaining screw 47 may be inserted through holes 44 and 23 to engage the threads in threaded hole 46. The serrations 26 in the end wall 24 which is nearest the projecting end of the blade body 11 are brought into contact with the shank of screw 47. Screw 47 is then tightened to draw tines 4] and 42 tightly together against the elongate blade body 11 for securing it in the slide 29. When handle 82 is manually engaged and a conductor wire is laid over the top of a bifurcated terminal (now shown), such as those carried on well known terminal blocks, the body 11 of the blade may be placed over the terminal so that the terminal is guided into the longitudinal recess by bevelled entry 17. Force is applied to handle 28 which tends to force blade body 11 down over the end of the terminal and the conductor into the center of the bifurcated terminal. When the blade body 11 contacts the base of the terminal block, continuing force on handle 28 forces slide 29 upward so that pin-like projection 39 bears against the bottom of sear pin 34 which in turn bears against cam surface 37. Cam surface 37 forces sear pin 34 laterally as seen in FIG. 5, compressing resilient pad 36. When cam surface 37 has forced sear pin 34 far enough laterally against resilient pad 36 so that hole 38 is aligned with pin-like projection 39, hammer 31 is forced downward abruptly by spring 32 thereby delivering a striking blow to shoulder 40 on slide 29. The striking blow delivered to slide 29 causes blade body 11 to seat the conductor in the terminal with seating edge 13 and cutting edge 12 to sever the conductor at the terminal. completing the termination of the conductor therein. When blade body 11 is mounted in slide 29 so that seating edges I4 project therefrom, the operation is the same, except that the conductor wire is not severed at the terminal.

The shock loading imposed on the elongate body 11 of the blade is absorbed by the tool without causing retention screw 47 to rotate or loosen, as it is held fast in place as originally adjusted by the gripping action of serrations 26 against the threaded shank of retention screw 47. Moreover. force imposed on handle 28 during use of the terminating tool 27 increases the contact force between the shank of screw 47 and the serrations 26 on the rounded end wall 24 nearest the projecting edge 12 or 13 of blade body 11. The edges of the serrations may in fact form grooves in the thread edges to more completely lock the screw.

Blade body 11 is reversible inasmuch as retention screw 47 may be loosened to allow blade body 11 to extend further out of handle 28 until the opposing wall 24 in elongate hole 23 furthest from the extended end of blade body 11 is contacted by the threaded shank of screw 47. Blade body 11 may now be rotated about screw 47 without removing screw 47 from threaded hole 46 until seating edges 14 extend from handle 28 and cutting edge 12 is contained within space 43 in slide 29. Serrations 26 on end wall 24 nearest seating edges 14 are now placed in contact with the threaded shank of retention screw 47 which is tightened to secure blade body 11 in place in the slide 29. The termination tool may now be used to place continuous conductors in contact with an electrical termination, such as the bifurcated terminal mentioned above, without severing the conductor at the terminal so that a plurality ofjumpers between a plurality .u terminals may be formed.

A terminating tool and blade for use therewith has been disclosed wherein the blade, once secured within the terminating tool, will not be loosened by reason of backing off of the retaining screw as the terminating tool experiences the shock loading resuiting from the striking blows generated during use. A reversible blade for use in a terminating tool is disclosed which may be reversed by merely loosening the retaining screw without the necessity of completely removing the retaining screwv Interruption of work for the purpose of resecuring the blade in the terminating tool is eliminated.

I claim:

1. A reversible blade for use in a tool for terminating electrical conductors at a termination clip and having a retaining screw for retaining the blade therein, comprising an elongate blade body, a first end on said elongate body having a cutting edge and a seating edge formed thereon, a second end on said elongate body having seating edges formed thereon, said first and second ends each having longitudinal recesses therein for receiving the termination clip, first and second opposing surfaces on said elongate body for contacting the retaining screw, and serrations on said first and second surfaces, whereby when said blade is retained in the tool and one of said first and second ends extends therefrom, said serrations on said first and second opposing surfaces respectively engage the retaining screw, thereby preventing loosening of the retaining screw and rotation of the blade with respect to the tool.

2. A blade for use in a termination tool for placing an electrical conductor in contact with a termination clip of the type having a manually engageable handle, a slide in said handle and movable with respect to said handle, means in said handle for striking a hammer blow on said slide, and a retaining screw for mounting the blade in said slide, comprising an elongate body having first and second ends, a cutting edge formed on said first end for terminating en electrical conductor at the termination clip, said first end having a recess formed therein for receiving the termination clip, a surface on said elongate body for contacting said retaining screw, and serrations on said surface, whereby when said blade is mounted in said slide with said cutting edge extending therefrom and said serrations are in Contact with the retaining screw the screw is prevented from loosening during tool use.

3. A blade for use in a termination tool as in claim 2 together with a seating edge on said second end for placing a continuous electrical conductor in contact with the termination clip, said second end having a recess formed therein for receiving the termination clip, an additional surface for contacting said retaining screw, and serrations on said additional surface, whereby when said blade is mounted in said slide with said seating edge extending therefrom and said additional surface is in contact with the retaining screw, the screw is prevented from loosening during tool use.

4. A tool for terminating electrical conductors at a termination clip, comprising a manually engageable handle, a slide in said handle movable with respect thereto. means for providing a striking force to said slide included in said handle, a blade having an elongate body, a cutting edge formed on one end of said blade for terminating an electrical conductor at the termination clip, a retaining screw for mounting said blade in said slide, said one end of said blade having a recess formed therein for receiving the termination clip, a surface on said elongate body for contacting said retaining screw and a plurality of serrations formed on said surface, whereby when said blade is mounted in said slide with said cutting edge extending therefrom said contacting surface is urged into increased force contact with said retaining screw by actuation of said means for providing a striking force, and said plurality of serrations prevents loosening of said retaining screw and rotation of said blade relative to said slide.

5. A tool for terminating electrical conductors as in claim 4 together with a seating edge on said blade on the end opposite said one end for attaching a continuous electrical conductor in contact with the termination clip, said seating edge having an additional recess formed therein for receiving the termination clip, an additional surface on said elongate body for contacting said retaining screw, and an additional plurality of serrations on said additional surface, whereby when said blade is mounted in said slide with said seating edge extending therefrom, said additional contacting surface is urged into increased force contact with said retaining screw by actuation of said means for providing a striking force, and said additional plurality of serrations prevents loosening of said retaining screw and rotation of said blade relative to said slide.

6. A blade for use in a tool for terminating an electrical conductor at a terminal clip, the tool including a retaining screw having a predetermined diameter for positioning the blade therein, comprising an elongate body having first and second ends, a cutting edge formed on said first end, a seating edge formed on said second end, said first and second ends each having longitudinal recesses therein adapted to receive the terminal clip, said elongate body having a centrally located elongate through hole with the major hole dimension aligned with the long dimension of said elongate body and having opposing end walls and a minor dimension providing clearance for the predetermined diameter of the retaining screw, serrations formed in said opposing end walls aligned in a direction parallel to the axis of said centrally located through hole, whereby when said blade is mounted in the tool by means of the retaining screw and one of said first and second ends extends therefrom, said serrations on said end wall nearest the extended end of the blade engage the screw for preventing rotation of the screw and the blade relative to the tool during use.

7. A blade for use in a tool for placing electrical conductors in contact with a termination clip, said tool having a retaining screw for retaining the blade therein, comprising an elongate blade body, a cutting edge formed on at least one of the ends of said elongate body, said one end having a longitudinal recess therein for receiving the termination clip, and a serrated surface on said elongate body for contacting the retaining screw when the blade is mounted in the tool, whereby when the blade is secured in the tool with the retaining screw said serrated surface prevents rotation of the retaining screw, and subsequent loosening of the blade with respect to the tool.

8. A blade for use in a tool for placing electrical conductors in contact with a termination clip, said tool having a retaining screw for retaining the blade therein, comprising an elongate blade body, a seating edge formed on at least one of the ends of said elongate body, said one end having a longitudinal recess therein for receiving the termination clip, and a serrated surface on said elongate body for contacting the retaining screw when the blade is mounted in the tool, whereby when the blade is secured in the tool with the retaining screw said serrated surface prevents rotation of the retaining screw and subsequent loosening of the blade with respect to the tool. 

1. A REVERSIBLE BLADE FOR USE IN A TOOL FOR TERMINATING ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS AT A TERMINATION CLIP AND HAVING A RETAINING SCREW FOR RETAINING THE BLADE THEREIN, COMPRISING AN ELONGATE BLADE BODY, A FIRST END ON SAID ELONGATE BODY HAVING A CUTTING EDGE AND A SEATING EDGE FORMED THEREON, A SECOND END ON SAID ELONGATE BODY HAVING SEATING EDGES FORMED THEREON, SAID FIRST AND SECOND ENDS EACH HAVING LONGITUDINAL RECESSES THEREIN FOR RECEIVING THE TERMINATION CLIP, FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSING SURFACES ON SAID ELONGATE BODY FOR CONTACTING THE RETAINING SCREW, AND DERRATIONS ON SAID FIRST AND SECOND SURFACES, WHEREBY WHEN SAID BLADE IS RETAINED IN THE TOOL AND ONE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND ENDS EXTENDS THEREFROM, SAID SERRATIONS ON SAID FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSING SURFACES RESPECTIVELY ENGAGE THE RETAINING SCREW, THEREBY PREVENTING LOOSENING OF THE RETAINING SCREW AND ROTATION OF THE BLADE WITH RESPECT TO THE TOOL.
 2. A blade for use in a termination tool for placing an electrical conductor in contact with a termination clip of the type having a manually engageable handle, a slide in said handle and movable with respect to said handle, means in said handle for striking a hammer blow on said slide, and a retaining screw for mounting the blade in said slide, comprising an elongate body having first and second ends, a cutting edge formed on said first end for terminating en electrical conductor at the termination clip, said first end having a recess formed therein for receiving the termination clip, a surface on said elongate body for contacting said retaining screw, and serrations on said surface, whereby when said blade is mounted in said slide with said cutting edge extending therefrom and said serrations are in contact with the retaining screw the screw is prevented from loosening during tool use.
 3. A blade for use in a termination tool as in claim 2 together with a seating edge on said second end for placing a continuous electrical conductor in contact with the termination clip, said second end having a recess formed therein for receiving the termination clip, an additional surface for contacting said retaining screw, and serrations on said additional surface, whereby when said blade is mounted in said slide with said seating edge extending therefrom and said additional surface is in contact with the retaining screw, the screw is prevented from loosening during tool use.
 4. A tool for terminating electrical conductors at a termination clip, comprising a manually engageable handle, a slide in said handle movable with respect thereto, means for providing a striking force to said slide included in said handle, a blade having an elongate body, a cutting edge formed on one end of said blade for terminating an electrical conductor at the termination clip, a retaining screw for mounting said blade in said slide, said one end of said blade having a recess formed therein for receiving the termination clip, a surface on said elongate body for contacting said retaining screw and a plurality of serrations formed on said surface, whereby when said blade is mounted in said slide with said cutting edge extending therefrom said contacting surface is urged into increased force contact with said retaining screw by actuation of said means for providing a striking force, and said plurality of serrations prevents loosening of said retaining screw and rotation of said blade relative to said slide.
 5. A tool for terminating electrical conductors as in claim 4 together with a seating edge on said blade on the end opposite said one end for attaching a continuous electrical conductor in contact with the termination clip, said seating edge having an additional recess formed therein for receiving the termination clip, an additional surface on said elongate body for contacting said retaining screw, and an additional plurality of serrations on said additional surface, whereby when said blade is mounted In said slide with said seating edge extending therefrom, said additional contacting surface is urged into increased force contact with said retaining screw by actuation of said means for providing a striking force, and said additional plurality of serrations prevents loosening of said retaining screw and rotation of said blade relative to said slide.
 6. A blade for use in a tool for terminating an electrical conductor at a terminal clip, the tool including a retaining screw having a predetermined diameter for positioning the blade therein, comprising an elongate body having first and second ends, a cutting edge formed on said first end, a seating edge formed on said second end, said first and second ends each having longitudinal recesses therein adapted to receive the terminal clip, said elongate body having a centrally located elongate through hole with the major hole dimension aligned with the long dimension of said elongate body and having opposing end walls and a minor dimension providing clearance for the predetermined diameter of the retaining screw, serrations formed in said opposing end walls aligned in a direction parallel to the axis of said centrally located through hole, whereby when said blade is mounted in the tool by means of the retaining screw and one of said first and second ends extends therefrom, said serrations on said end wall nearest the extended end of the blade engage the screw for preventing rotation of the screw and the blade relative to the tool during use.
 7. A blade for use in a tool for placing electrical conductors in contact with a termination clip, said tool having a retaining screw for retaining the blade therein, comprising an elongate blade body, a cutting edge formed on at least one of the ends of said elongate body, said one end having a longitudinal recess therein for receiving the termination clip, and a serrated surface on said elongate body for contacting the retaining screw when the blade is mounted in the tool, whereby when the blade is secured in the tool with the retaining screw said serrated surface prevents rotation of the retaining screw, and subsequent loosening of the blade with respect to the tool.
 8. A blade for use in a tool for placing electrical conductors in contact with a termination clip, said tool having a retaining screw for retaining the blade therein, comprising an elongate blade body, a seating edge formed on at least one of the ends of said elongate body, said one end having a longitudinal recess therein for receiving the termination clip, and a serrated surface on said elongate body for contacting the retaining screw when the blade is mounted in the tool, whereby when the blade is secured in the tool with the retaining screw said serrated surface prevents rotation of the retaining screw and subsequent loosening of the blade with respect to the tool. 